US8302738B2

Power train handler

Summary by NHIP

Adjustable Power Train Handler

The apparatus features two independently adjustable inverted T-shaped stands with slidable T-shaped supports holding rotationally balanced inverted U-shaped tip plates. Each stand includes an elevating mechanism and releasable, slidable, lockable connections between the vertical portions of the stands.

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 1, the broadest

Abstract

A power train handler having a first inverted T-shaped stand and a second inverted T-shaped stand the height of each of which is preferably independently adjustable. A T-shaped support is slidably attached to the upper end of each inverted T-shaped stand. Either an inverted U-shaped tip plate is rotationally balanced on a T-shaped support or a slotted bar having rotationally mounted arms is attached to the T-shaped support. Preferably, wheels are attached to the bottom of the inverted T-shaped stands; and, preferably, the inverted T-shaped stands are releasably, slidably, and lockably connected to each other.

US8302738B2, drawing sheet 1 — Sheet 1 of 5

Term

Projected expiry 27 January 2029.

2 claims: 1 independent, 1 dependent

1
Broadest claimClaim Score 16, narrow(NHIP)A power train handler, which comprises:a first inverted T-shaped stand having a vertical portion with an upper end and a horizontal portion;a first T-shaped support having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion with the vertical portion of said T-shaped support being slidably attached to the upper end of the vertical portion of said first inverted T-shaped stand;a first inverted U-shaped tip plate rotationally balanced on the horizontal portion of said first T-shaped support;a second inverted T-shaped stand having a vertical portion with an upper end and a horizontal portion;a second T-shaped support having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion with the vertical portion of said T-shaped support being slidably attached to the upper end of the vertical portion of said second inverted T-shaped stand;and a second inverted U-shaped tip plate rotationally balanced on the horizontal portion of said second T-shaped support;the handler further comprising: a means for elevating said first T-shaped support attached to said first T-shaped support and to said first inverted T-shaped stand;a means for elevating said second T-shaped support attached to said second T-shaped support and to said second inverted T-shaped stand;and a means for releasably, slidably, and lockably connecting said first inverted T-shaped stand to said second inverted T-shaped stand;wherein: the upper end of the vertical portion of said first inverted T-shaped stand is open with the vertical portion of said first T-shaped support slidably inserted into the vertical portion of said first inverted T-shaped stand;the upper end of the vertical portion of said second inverted T-shaped stand is open with the vertical portion of said second T-shaped support slidably inserted into the vertical portion of said second inverted T-shaped stand;the means for elevating said first T-shaped support comprises a screw having an adapter for an air ratchet on a bottom of such screw with an aperture for reaching the adapter being located at a bottom of said first inverted T-shaped stand;the means for elevating said second T-shaped support comprises a screw having an adapter for an air ratchet on a bottom of such screw with an aperture for reaching the adapter being located at a bottom of said second inverted T-shaped stand;the means for releasably, slidably, and lockably connecting said first inverted T-shaped stand to said second inverted T-shaped stand is a connecting bar releasably, slidably, and lockably attached to said-first inverted T-shaped stand and to said second inverted T-shaped stand;said first inverted U-shaped tip plate is loosely secured to the horizontal portion of said first T-shaped support;said second inverted U-shaped tip plate is loosely secured to the horizontal portion of said second T-shaped support;and further comprising: wheels mounted to a bottom of the horizontal portion of said first inverted T-shaped stand and to a bottom of the horizontal portion of said second inverted T-shaped stand.

36 paragraphs in 4 sections, as filed

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00021. Field of the Invention

p-0003This invention relates to a device for facilitating the removal and installation of a power train for a motor vehicle as well as transporting and providing a platform for working on such power train when it has been removed from the vehicle.

p-00042. Description of the Related Art

p-0005Two handlers for power trains are known to the present inventor.

p-0006SPX/OTC Service Solutions of Owatonna, Minn., manufactures a no. 1585 power train lift in addition to a 6710A engine cradle and a 6135 power train dolly. The latter two items utilize these numbers in the Chrysler catalog and are to be used in conjunction with one another.

p-0007However, neither of these handlers two support stands the height of each of which is independently adjustable, which leave the bottom of the power train accessible, the distance between which stands can be varied, a self-leveling top, the ability to be compactly stored, and chains for securing the power train to the handler.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0008The Power Train Handler of the present invention has two support stands releasably connected by a connecting bar, allowing the distance between the support stands to be varied and making the bottom of a power train held by the support stands available so that the pan can be removed.

p-0009Work can be performed on the power train while it on the Power Train Handler of the present invention. Furthermore, wheels below the support stands permit the Power Train Handler and any power train it is supporting to be moved to other locations, as desired.

p-0010The height of each support stand and the components associated therewith is independently adjustable in order to accommodate power trains having different dimensions. And, preferably, the top of each support stand has a self-leveling tip plate.

p-0011The Power Train Handler can also be partially disassembled and then reassembled in a compact fashion for storage.

p-0012In lieu of the tip plate, a slotted bar with attached rotating arms can optionally be placed on top of one or more of the support stands further to accommodate varying types of power trains or to permit one end of a motor vehicle to be raised so that the Power Train Handler can be used to move such vehicle.

p-0013Preferably, the Power Train Handler also includes chains for even more secure retention of a power train and a plate to support a jack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> provides an overall lateral view of the Power Train Handler.

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows the interior of a support stand and other components attached to the support stand.

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a cutaway view illustrating a preferred mechanism for elevating the T-shaped support that is placed at the upper end of each support stand.

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a lateral view of a tip plate.

p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a plan view of a tip plate.

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> portrays the storage configuration of the Power Train Handler.

p-0020<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an overall lateral view of an optional version of the Power Train Handler, having a plate for a jack attached to the horizontal portion a support stand as an alternate method for elevating the T-shaped support at the upper end of a support stand and having a slotted bar with rotatably attached arms, in lieu of the tip plate, on top of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped supports at the upper end of the support stands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

p-0021The Power Train Handler of the present invention supports the power train of a motor vehicle with or without the engine being connected to the remainder of the power train.

p-0022Work can be performed on the power train while it is situated on the Handler, and the power train can be moved from place to place.

p-0023The basic structures of the Power Train Handler are two inverted T-shaped stands 1, as illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

p-0024At least the vertical portion 2 of each stand 1 is, as most clearly viewed in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, hollow; and, preferably, both the horizontal portion 3 and the vertical portion 2 of each stand 1 are constructed of a steel channel 4 having a square cross-sectional shape 5.

p-0025Slidably attached to an upper end 6 of the vertical portion 2 of each stand 1 is a vertical portion 7 of a T-shaped support 8. Preferably, the upper end 6 of the vertical portion 2 of each stand 1 is open; and into such open upper end 6 is slidably inserted the vertical portion 7 of a T-shaped support 8. An elevating mechanism 9 is preferably attached to the support 8 and also to the stand 1 in order to raise and lower the support 8 with respect to the stand 1. The elevation of each support 8 can, consequently, be independently adjusted.

p-0026Preferably, the elevating mechanism 9 comprises, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, a screw 10 having an adapter 11 for an air ratchet on the bottom 12 of such screw. (Of course, an aperture 60 must exist in the bottom 32 of the stand 1 in order to provide access to the adapter 11.)

p-0027An inverted U-shaped tip plate 13 is preferably rotationally balanced on the horizontal portion 14 of the T-shaped support 8. This is preferably accomplished by having a bolt 15 pass through apertures 16 in the sides 17 of the U-shaped tip plate 13. The bolt 15 is placed on the horizontal portion 14 of the T-shaped support 8. Preferably, the bolt 15 is releasably secured with a nut 18.

p-0028In order to prevent inadvertent removal of the U-shaped tip plate 13, the U-shaped tip plate 13 is preferably loosely secured to the horizontal portion 14 of the T-shaped support 8; to do this, preferably two additional bolts 19 are placed in two additional pairs of apertures 20 in the sides 17 of the U-shaped tip plate 13. With respect to the apertures 16, both pairs of apertures 20 are lower so that the bolt 15 is above the horizontal portion 14 of the T-shaped support 8 while the two additional bolts 19 are placed below the horizontal portion 14 of the T-shaped support 8. Also, one of the pairs of additional apertures 20 is placed nearer a first end 21 of the U-shaped tip plate 13 than are the apertures 16; and the other pair of additional apertures 20 is located nearer a second end 22 of the U-shaped tip plate 13 than are the apertures 16. Also preferably, each of the two additional bolts 19 is secured with a nut 23.

p-0029The tip plate 13, therefore, both self levels and slides on the horizontal portion 14 of the T-shaped support 8.

p-0030Additionally, in order to facilitate aligning the bolts 15, 19 with the apertures 16, 20, the horizontal portion 24 of the U-shaped tip plate 13 is preferably, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, transversely separated into a first horizontal surface 25 and a second horizontal surface 26, with the first horizontal surface 25 attached to a first side 27 of the U-shaped tip plate 13 and with the second horizontal surface 26 attached to a second side 28 of the U-shaped tip plate 13.

p-0031Preferably, as seen in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a connecting bar 29 is attached to each of the two inverted T-shaped stands 1; and, even more preferably, such connection is releasable. Also, preferably such connection is—using any technique that is well known in the art, such as a thumb screw in a threaded aperture—slidable and lockable, permitting the distance between the two inverted T-shaped stands 1 to be varied. Preferably, the connecting bar 29 is attached low, i.e., near the horizontal portion 3, on the vertical portion 2 of each stand 1 or on the horizontal portion 3 of each stand 1, in order to provide more room for the power train, and, even more preferably, is attached at or near the intersection 30 of the vertical portion 2 and the horizontal portion 3 of each stand 1.

p-0032Preferably, the connecting bar 29 and the vertical portion 7 of each T-shaped support 8 have substantially the same cross-sectional shape and dimensions so that the connecting bar 29 can, as illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, be placed in the vertical portion 2 of a stand 1 and a T-shaped support 8 can be releasably and slidably attached to the two inverted T-shaped stands 1, bringing such inverted T-shaped stands 1 near one another for compact storage of the Power Train Handler.

p-0033Preferably, wheels 31, which are preferably caster wheels 31, are mounted to the bottom 32 of the horizontal portion 3 each inverted T-shaped stand 1. Preferably, such wheels 31 are also near the ends 33 of the horizontal portion 3 each inverted T-shaped stand 1.

p-0034And, preferably, a first end 34 of a chain 35 is attached to the left side 36 of the horizontal portion 3 of each inverted T-shaped stand 1; and a first end 37 of a second chain 38 is attached to the right side 39 of the horizontal portion 3 each inverted T-shaped stand 1. To the second end 40 of the chain 35 is attached a first end 41 of a turnbuckle 42, and to the second end 43 of the turnbuckle 42 is attached a hook 44 for releasable engagement with the power train. Similarly, to the second end 45 of the second chain 48 is attached a first end 49 of a turnbuckle 50, and to the second end 51 of the turnbuckle 50 is attached a hook 52 for releasable engagement with the power train.

p-0035Also, preferably, a plate 53 upon which a jack can sit is attached to the top 54 of the connecting bar 29.

p-0036Optionally, in lieu of a U-shaped tip plate 13, a slotted bar 55 is, as portrayed in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, attached, preferably with bolts 56 extending through the slot 57, to the horizontal portion 14 of at least one of the T-shaped supports 8. Rotatably attached, preferably with bolts 58 extending through the slot 57, are two arms 59. The attachment is preferably near a first end 61 of each arm 59. Preferably, one arm 59 is near a first end 62 of the bar 55; and a second arm 59 is near a second end 63 of the bar 55. Near a second end 64 of each arm is an aperture 65 for a support (not illustrated) to engage the power train.

p-0037Having the slotted bar 55 and arms 59 on one T-shaped support 8 enables the Power Train Handler to hold Asian-made powertrains. Having the slotted bar 55 and arms 59 on both T-shaped supports 8 enables the Powertrain Handler to hold a late model Chrysler powertrain.

Contents4

Every citation, both ways

Citations
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2 members in 1 office

This recordMember, by publication datePriority claim

Priority claims2

Priority claims
Document	Office	Kind	Date
45425503	United States of America	A	2003-06-03
US20030454255	–	–	–

Members2

Family members, oldest first
Document	Office	Kind
US2004256819A1	United States of America	A1	2004-12-23
US8302738B2This record	United States of America	B2	2012-11-06

63 transactions on the USPTO file

Allowed after 2 non-final rejections and 1 appeal.

Non-final rejections: 2
Final rejections: 0
RCEs: 0
Appeals: 1

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	Event	Code
2016-12-02	Expire PatentEXP.	EXP.
2012-11-06	Recordation of Patent Grant MailedPGM/	PGM/
2012-11-06	Patent Issue Date Used in PTA CalculationAllowedPTAC	PTAC
2012-10-17	Issue Notification MailedAllowedWPIR	WPIR
2012-10-04	Dispatch to FDCD1935	D1935
2012-10-04	Application Is Considered Ready for IssuePILS	PILS
2012-10-01	Issue Fee Payment VerifiedN084	N084
2012-10-01	Issue Fee Payment ReceivedIFEE	IFEE
2012-07-02	Mail Notice of AllowanceAllowedMN/=.	MN/=.
2012-06-18	Notice of Allowance Data Verification CompletedAllowedN/=.	N/=.
2012-06-14	Examiner's Amendment CommunicationEX.A	EX.A
2012-04-23	Mail BPAI Decision on Appeal - Affirmed in PartMAPDP	MAPDP
2012-04-23	BPAI Decision - Examiner Affirmed in PartAPDP	APDP
2009-11-23	Docketing Notice Mailed to AppellantAP_DK_M	AP_DK_M
2009-11-20	Assignment of Appeal NumberAPAS	APAS
2009-11-09	Appeal Awaiting BPAI DocketingAPWD	APWD
2009-11-06	TC completion of return orderTCBP	TCBP
2009-11-02	Mail Miscellaneous Communication to ApplicantMM327	MM327
2009-10-30	Miscellaneous Communication to Applicant - No Action CountM327	M327
2009-10-27	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2009-10-23	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2009-10-23	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2009-09-23	Order Returning Undocketed Appeal to the ExaminerAPRD	APRD
2009-09-21	Appeal Awaiting BPAI DocketingAPWD	APWD
2009-09-17	Appeal ready for BPAI reviewARBP	ARBP
2009-07-16	Exam. Ans. Review CompletePACC	PACC
2009-06-10	Mail Examiner's AnswerMAPEA	MAPEA
2009-06-08	Examiner's Answer to Appeal BriefAPEA	APEA
2009-05-18	Appeal Brief Review CompleteAPBR	APBR
2009-05-18	Mail Notice of Rescinded AbandonmentAbandonedMNRAB	MNRAB
2009-05-16	Date Forwarded to ExaminerFWDX	FWDX
2009-05-16	Notice of Rescinded Abandonment in TCsAbandonedNRAB	NRAB
2009-05-05	Mail-Petition to Revive Application - GrantedMPREV	MPREV
2009-05-05	Petition to Revive Application - GrantedPREV	PREV
2009-04-09	Petition EnteredPET.	PET.
2009-02-09	Mail-Petition Decision - DismissedMPTDI	MPTDI
2009-02-09	Petition Decision - DismissedPTDI	PTDI
2008-05-27	Appeal Brief FiledAP.B	AP.B
2008-05-27	Petition EnteredPET.	PET.
2008-03-25	Mail Abandonment for Failure to Respond to Office ActionAbandonedMABN2	MABN2
2008-03-24	Aband. for Failure to Respond to O. A.AbandonedABN2	ABN2
2006-11-20	Notice of Appeal FiledN/AP	N/AP
2006-11-20	Request for Extension of Time - GrantedXT/G	XT/G
2006-05-18	Mail Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionMCTNF	MCTNF
2006-05-15	Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionCTNF	CTNF
2006-03-15	Date Forwarded to ExaminerFWDX	FWDX
2006-03-06	Response after Non-Final ActionA...	A...
2006-03-06	Request for Extension of Time - GrantedXT/G	XT/G
2005-10-11	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2005-09-06	Mail Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionMCTNF	MCTNF
2005-08-08	Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionCTNF	CTNF
2005-06-24	IFW TSS Processing by Tech Center CompleteTSSCOMP	TSSCOMP
2005-06-24	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2004-05-21	Transfer Inquiry to GAUTI1050	TI1050
2004-02-19	Application Is Now CompleteCOMP	COMP
2004-02-18	Application Dispatched from OIPEOIPE	OIPE
2004-02-18	Application Is Now CompleteCOMP	COMP
2004-02-04	Additional Application Filing FeesADDFLFEE	ADDFLFEE
2004-02-04	A statement by one or more inventors satisfying the requirement under 35 USC 115, Oath of the ApplicOATHDECL	OATHDECL
2004-02-04	Applicant has submitted new drawings to correct Corrected Papers problemsCORRDRW	CORRDRW
2003-08-04	Notice Mailed--Application Incomplete--Filing Date AssignedINCD	INCD
2003-06-16	Cleared by OIPE CSRL194	L194
2003-06-03	Initial Exam Team nnIEXX	IEXX

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Events

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	Event	Code
2016-12-27	Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance feeLapsedFP	FP
2016-12-05	Information on status: patent discontinuationPATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362STCH	STCH
2016-11-06	Lapse for failure to pay maintenance feesLapsedLAPS	LAPS
2016-06-17	Maintenance fee reminder mailedREMI	REMI